A Leeds United Player Profile: John Lukic

Jovan "John" Lukic (Serbian: Jovan "Džon" Lukić) (born December 11, 1960) is an English former football goalkeeper.

Born in Chesterfield to Serbian parents, Lukic signed for Leeds United as a schoolboy. He made his debut for the Elland Road side in 1979 and went on to play 165 games for them.

After making a transfer request, Lukic moved to Arsenal in July 1983 for £75,000, as a long-term replacement for Pat Jennings. By the middle of the 1984--85 season he was the club's No. 1, and won the League Cup in 1987 and the Division One title in 1989 (that season he was an ever-present in the side).

In the summer of 1990 Arsenal manager George Graham signed David Seaman from Queens Park Rangers -- Seaman had ironically been Lukic's understudy at Leeds. Having played 277 times for the Gunners, Lukic rejoined Leeds for £1million, playing a further 265 times and winning a second League title in 1991--92 and a runners up medal in the League Cup in 1995--96.

Lukic was displaced at Leeds by the signing of Nigel Martyn, and in 1996 he returned for a second spell at Arsenal. As deputy to David Seaman, he played 15 times in 1996--97 as cover, but after the signing of Alex Manninger in 1997 he stepped down to No. 3. However, with Manninger injured, Lukic was on the bench for Arsenal's 2000 UEFA Cup Final loss to Galatasaray, earning him a runners-up medal.

In 2000, after a series of injuries to the club's other 'keepers, he made a brief return to the first team, playing three times, the last a month shy of his 40th birthday; one of these, a match against Lazio on October 17, 2000 made him, at the time, the oldest player ever to take part in a UEFA Champions League match. This has since been surpased by Danny Verlinden, Alessandro Costacurta and Marco Ballotta. He retired in 2001 and now coaches part-time.
Though Lukic played for England at youth and U21 level, he never won a full cap for the side.
There is an urban legend that Lukic's mother survived the Munich air disaster while pregnant with him; this is patently false as the crash happened nearly three years before Lukic's birth. While there was a Mrs Lukic on board the plane, who did survive (along with her young daughter), she is not in any way related to him.

Lukic's son, also called John, and also a goalkeeper, was a youth player on the books of Nottingham Forest, before signing for Grimsby Town in June 2005. John Lukic Jr. has no club now after leaving The Mariners at the end of the 2005--06 season.

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[bassatnight]

Did he not win a league cup and a title at Arsenal?

[watermelontaichi]

Lukic had an interesting career, spilting his time between Arsenal and Leeds. Showing equal share of loyality to both clubs. One thing for sure - both set of fans would all have found memories of him - not exactly a top top class 'keeper, but an all around rock solid goalkeeper, and a tremendous professional.

[chrisprimera]

@mikehorspool agree! Lukic was class! he was the best keeper in division for years! million great saves people forget one mistake they remember! cocks!

[mikehorspool]

@watermelontaichi

who made you an expert....Not a top class keeper...go away...he was one of the best in the world from 88-92. we won two top flight league champions ships with two different clubs in three year (i think that could be a record) and played top flight football for four decades. you dont do that with out being a top class keeper. I am a leeds fan and from 90-92 he was our best player and unbelievable. his form then suffered and this is what people remember but he was class

[weponarmor]

What is the song played at 10-32 seconds?

[fizzbomb1972]

we ve always had the odd dodgy keeper but on his day big john was awesome...WACCOE

[rau1seixas]

of course, she'd have won the championship medal over 42 games that would have got her to play Rangers in the first place

[Bunty1962]

Never forget his blunders against Rangers, my God my dead granny would have tipped that one over

[424578]

leeds utd allways have the best players thats why we are the best glory glory leeds united

[ccoleeds]

i remember the match against middlesbrough in 1996 when i was 5 at elland road firdt game i had been to a leeds game lukic knocked himself out on the goalpost n wilko didnt name mark beeney on th the bench so lucas radebe had to go in goal fantstic keeper not sure about the kits though aha although i used to have tem myself